The 28-year-old centerman, who can also play on the wing, joins the club after spending the past season with Angers in Ligue Magnus of France, where he iced in 49 matches and recorded 28 points (12G, 16A), while also picking up a Continental Cup Silver Medal.
Born in Steinbach, Manitoba, Brendan will be playing his fourth straight season in Europe, after having previous spells in Norway and Denmark, since moving across the pond during the 2019-2020 campaign.
Harms, a two-time Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) Champion, has finished in the top 10 of point scoring in every season he has played, since 2009 and also, the 183lbs, right-shot, forward turned down the chance to join Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League, one of Canada’s top junior leagues at age 16.
Instead he accepted a scholarship to Bemidji State University after winning his first MJHL title with Portage Terriers and representing Canada at the Under 17’s World Hockey Challenge in 2010-2011, Harms was also chosen to play in the NHL-USHL Top Prospect Game.
The 6-foot-tall Canadian, has also spent multiple seasons in the ECHL and NCAA, as after he played four years at Bemidji State, where he recorded 88 points (33G, 55A) in 144 matches, he turned professional with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades in 2017.
During his collegiate career, Brendan was crowned a NCAA (WCHA) Regular Season Champion in his senior year (2016-2017) and was also an alternate captain that season, as well as being named on Third All-Star Team, All-Academic Team and Lowes Senior Class All-Americans 1st Team.
In the 2017-2018 season, Harms completed his first full professional year, whilst icing with the Utah Grizzlies (62GP-13G+25A) and then during his second year in Utah, he then moved to Greenville and became a Swamp Rabbit for the remainder of the campaign.
Brendan began the 2019-2020 season with a short stint at Cincinnati Cyclones, before switching to Europe and joining Norwegian club, Lillehammer, where he collected 33 points (14G, 19A) from 29 games.
The following year he would play a full season with Danish club, SonderjyskE and would return to the Vojens-based team at the end of the following season after a stint with fellow Danish league side, Rodovre Mighty Bulls.
It was then in the summer of 2022, Harms joined Angers in the French Ligue, his most recent club and he helped them to a third-place league finish and a playoff semi-final.
LEFEBVRE ON HARMS
Once the signing of Harms was confirmed, Stars Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach, Marc LeFebvre, said: “I am very excited, Brendan is a player I have been following for the last five seasons and I have coached against him quite a bit.
“I watched him when he was at Greenville in the ECHL, when I was in Orlando, they were in our division so I got to see him quite often and his coaches always bragged about what he brought to the table when I coached against him in Denmark and last year in France.
“He has always been a player that has intrigued me and I am glad we have him now, because he gives us a lot of versatility upfront, he can play center, on the wing and in all situations.
“He is going to bring a lot of sandpaper and grit to our line-up, he gets in other players faces and brings a lot of skill with him as well, so he adds a lot of the things we are looking for.”
Marc continued: “We had to be patient on this one, obviously Brendan has been on my list since day one and I circled back to his agent every few weeks to see where he was at.
“Things just came together in the last 48 hours, so like with every player we have been patient with, we are approaching things in that manner to make sure we get the right players.”
Harms is also going to be sponsored by the University of Dundee and will study at the renowned school for an MSc Business Management Degree during this season.
Discussing the extra educational opportunity for Harms, LeFebvre added: “It is a prestigious program and we want to make sure we have the right people going into the program as well, because they are a representative of Dundee Stars.
“So, we want to make sure we have the right guys for that also and we want guys who have done well in their undergrads and will fit the program, so it is a great opportunity for Brendan.”
Listen to the full interview below!
BRENDAN ON MAKING THE MOVE TO DUNDEE
Hear from our new signing as he spoke to Stephen Swann from Stars TV after making the switch to Scotland.
In his 14-year-career so far, Brendan has featured in 668 matches, recorded 218 goals, 316 assists and collected 545 penalty minutes, while also playing in 83 playoff games, where he tallied 65 points (26G, 39A) and 72 penalty minutes.
Harms has shared a dressing room with a few former Stars in his career, including; Rory Rawlyk, Alex Leclerc and Brett Stovin.
Brendan is our 11th signing of the summer and joins Drydn Dow, Lucas Brine, Kris Inglis, Jonathan McBean, Craig Moore, Craig Garrigan, Johnny Walker, Josh Brittain, Chris McKay and Ryan Valentini on the roster for next season.
Harms will wear #81 for the Stars and you can sponsor his equipment for this season right now, click HERE.
To see Brendan’s career stats on Elite Prospects click HERE
Banner Image: The Brandon Sun.
Featured Image: Winnipeg Free Press.
